Mario Tornado
| Mario Tornado | |
|---|---|
 Mario Tornado in Melee | |
| Users | Mario Dr. Mario ("Dr. Tornado") |
| Universe | Mario |
| Article on Super Mario Wiki | Spin Jump |
| “ | Engulf opponents in a high-speed spin. Tap  while attacking to float up.
|
” |
| —Melee's instruction manual | ||
The Mario Tornado is the name given to Mario's down special move in Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, F.L.U.D.D. replaced it as his down special, and Mario Tornado became his down aerial instead. The move involves him rotating rapidly with his fists outstretched, then finishing with a full-body stretch to bash opponents at the end. It is a multi-hit attack, and the last hit can meteor smash in Smash 64. This attack's knockback is always the same in Smash 64, regardless of the enemy's damage. However, in Melee, the knockback increased with the opponent's damage. By pressing the Special Attack button rapidly, Mario would rise up in the air slightly and give him a slight recovery chance.
Dr. Tornado
Dr. Tornado is one of Dr. Mario's special moves in Melee. Dr. Tornado has the same effect as the Mario Tornado, except that it is a little stronger. The special attack traps the victim into a tornado, punches them constantly, and then smashes them up into the air when the move is done. The attack can also very lightly pull someone near into the Tornado. Unlike Mario Tornado, Dr. Tornado throws them in a random direction, rather than straight up. Dr. Mario is able to hover in the air when using this attack by repeatedly tapping the B Button while using it. Also, Dr. Mario doesn't yell "Yahoo!" or "Yee-haw!" when performing the attack, unlike Mario, though he still says it when using his back throw.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Mario Tornado was replaced with F.L.U.D.D. as Mario's down special. In the DOJO!! update revealing this change, a screenshot of the Mario Tornado is shown with the accompanying caption: "He still seems to have this move, though. Eh? Is it a normal attack?!" The E For All demo eventually revealed that the Mario Tornado was, in fact, merged with Mario's old down aerial move. The attack is quicker, but the damage is actually unchanged. In fact, it has been discovered to be an effective KO move when used in midair, if the opponent is hit at the very end of the tornado. Because of it being an aerial attack, it does not affect Mario's falling speed, but it can slightly stop his momentum when he is knocked into the air. As a down aerial, one must be careful not to fast-fall while using it. It is also the only down special to be replaced by another move. As Mario Tornado is in his down aerial attack, he can no longer perform the rising tornado technique, making his recovery worse.
Origin
In Super Mario World, Mario possessed a spinning jump in addition to his normal jump. The spin jump is a bit higher than his regular jump and deals more damage, offers protection from landing on normally-hazardous objects and enemies, and can break blocks from above if Mario isn't small. If Mario has a Fire Flower, spinning will shoot a fireball in each direction; the move is also used to dismount Yoshi.
Since the move's appearances in SSB and Melee, the spin jump has continued to appear in Mario games. While its higher damage and block-breaking power are now the job of the Ground Pound instead, spin jumping tends to cause Mario to fall slower, is capable of clearing fog, and gives Mario more height upon bouncing off enemies.
In Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, Mario has access to a Luma-powered variant of the move, which acts as a one-hit attack, physical projectile reflector, and midair double jump/stalling technique.
Gallery
Caped Mario using a Spin Jump in Super Mario World.
Mario Tornado in SSB.
The move's meteor smash properties in SSB.
Animation of the move used in Melee
As a down aerial attack in Brawl.
Trivia
- As Mario Tornado involves Mario leaning backwards out of the plane of gameplay, certain fast and thin hitboxes, such as Link's Arrows, can be dodged with it.
